The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Kevin Weiss

All-Pasco County fall awards announced

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High school coaches from Pasco County Schools recently announced Sunshine Athletic Conference (SAC) All-Conference Teams, Athletes of the Year and Coaches of the Year, for the 2019-2020 fall sports season.

Selections were made for both the East and West division.

The following high schools from The Laker/Lutz News coverage area were represented in the East: Cypress Creek, Land O’ Lakes, Pasco, Sunlake, Wesley Chapel, Wiregrass Ranch and Zephyrhills.

Here is a listing of boys team and individual recipients within The Laker/Lutz News coverage area for football, cross-country, golf, and swimming & diving.

(NOTE: The Laker/Lutz News will publish the Girls All-Conference listings in its Dec. 25 edition)

The Wiregrass Ranch High School varsity football team went 7-4 in 2019— the best record among East Pasco County football programs. The team also clinched its fourth straight playoff berth. (Courtesy of Wiregrass Ranch High School Athletics)

Fall Sports (Boys)
SAC East All-Conference Football
Team Champion: Wiregrass Ranch
Coach of the Year: Mark Kantor, Wiregrass Ranch
Offensive Player of the Year: Keith Walker, Wiregrass Ranch
Defensive Player of the Year: Dylan Ridolph, Wiregrass Ranch

First-Team Offense
QB: Ethan Forrester, Land O’ Lakes, senior
RB: Zyre Roundtree, Zephyrhills, junior
RB: Zach Spicer, Sunlake, senior
WR: Keith Walker, Wiregrass Ranch, senior
WR: Maguire Anderson, junior
TE: Brett Gwinn, Land O’ Lakes, senior
OL: Connor Lenczden, Wiregrass Ranch, senior
OL: Demetrius Wright, Zephyrhills, senior
OL: Cody Rand, Pasco, senior
OL: Robert Gibb, Wiregrass Ranch, senior
OL: Tyre’ Brooks, Wesley Chapel, junior

First-Team Defense/Special Teams
DL: Hunter Feiden, Sunlake, senior
DL: Demetrius Wright, Zephyrhills, senior
DL: Gavin Paul, Wesley Chapel, sophomore
DL: Tyler Hayes, Wiregrass Ranch, senior
LB: Dylan Ridolph, Wiregrass Ranch, senior
LB: Brenden Maddox, Wesley Chapel, senior
LB: Amir Burgess, Pasco, junior
LB: Nick Sheldon, Wesley Chapel, sophomore
DB: Jonavon Tillis, Wiregrass Ranch, senior
DB: Tre Gallimore, Zephyrhills, junior
DB: JT Anderson, Wesley Chapel, senior
P: Fletcher Martin, Wesley Chapel, senior
K: Fletcher Martin, Wesley Chapel, senior
Utility: Jelani Vassell, Wesley Chapel, senior

Second-Team Offense
QB: Rocco Becht, Wiregrass Ranch, sophomore
RB: Nate Miller, Wiregrass Ranch, senior
RB: Jovanni Addison, Cypress Creek, senior
WR: Julian Gonzalez, Wiregrass Ranch, senior
WR: Jalen Warren, Cypress Creek, senior
TE: David Meyer, Sunlake, senior
OL: Jarrin Galyan, Zephyrhills, junior
OL: Noah Smith, Cypress Creek, senior
OL: Josh Hood, Wiregrass Ranch, senior
OL: Isaac Tavo, Land O’ Lakes, junior
OL: James Mancebo, Sunlake, sophomore

Second-Team Defense/Special Teams
DL: Zavian Mckinnon, Land O’ Lakes, junior
DL: Sebastian Bromonte, Cypress Creek, senior
DL: Cayman Wiseman, Sunlake, senior
DL: Tyre’ Brooks, Wesley Chapel, junior
LB: Tyler Mesnekoff, Wiregrass Ranch, senior
LB: Jalen Warren, Cypress Creek, senior
LB: Mitch Hammond, Sunlake, sophomore
LB: Damian Riewold, Sunlake, senior
DB: Isaiah Ramsey, Wesley Chapel, senior
DB: Jelani Vasell, Wesley Chapel, senior
DB: Jacob Schwarz, Sunlake, senior
P: Jacob Schwarz, Sunlake, senior
K: Adam Mihalek, Wiregrass Ranch, junior
Utility: Tre Gallimore, Zephyrhills, junior

Honorable Mention
Maguire Neal, Zephyrhills, sophomore

The Sunlake High boys cross-country team finished in fifth place at the FHSAA Class 3A state cross-country championships — marking the best team showing among East Pasco schools. (Courtesy of Sunlake High School Athletics)

SAC East All-Conference Boys’ Cross-Country
Team Champion: Sunlake
Coach of the Year: Randall Reeves, Sunlake
Runner of the Year: Sebastian Hernandez, Wiregrass Ranch

First-Team
Colby Robbins, Sunlake, sophomore
Kaden Knopp, Sunlake, senior
Sebastian Hernandez, Wiregrass Ranch, junior
Drew Knobl, Sunlake, senior
Brandon Castillo, Land O’ Lakes, junior
Gavin Kennedy, Sunlake, senior
Edward Scheid, Sunlake, senior

Second-Team
Joseph Hoppe, Zephyrhills, senior
Alex Pena, Sunlake, freshman
Justin Ludwig, Cypress Creek, sophomore
Albert La Red, Sunlake, senior
Jacob Mong, Sunlake, senior
Braden Mitchell, Land O’ Lakes, junior
Joseph Abradovich, Land O’ Lakes, junior

Honorable Mention
Patrick Steams, Pasco, junior
Patrick Foti, Wesley Chapel, freshman

The Zephyrhills High varsity boys golf team won the Sunshine Athletic Conference tournament, then went on to finish second in the District 8-2A meet and make a regionals appearance. (Courtesy of Zephyrhills High School Athletics)

SAC East All-Conference Boys’ Golf
Team Champion: Zephyrhills
Coach of the Year: Jeff Hupp, Zephyrhills
Golfer of the Year: Roddy Kight, Zephyrhills

First-Team
Roddy Kight, Zephyrhills, senior
Max Barile, Sunlake, junior
Fab Laude, Wiregrass Ranch, junior
Jarrod Smith, Cypress Creek, senior
TJ Floberg, Pasco, junior
Alec Damien, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

Second-Team
Brady Nipps, Sunlake, sophomore
Christian Hupp, Zephyrhills, junior
Scott Atkins, Pasco, junior
Dylan Brooks, Wesley Chapel, senior
Aidan Brooks, Wiregrass Ranch, freshman

Honorable Mention
Michael Depue, Land O’ Lakes, junior

Zuri Ramsey (Courtesy of Land O’ Lakes High School Athletics)

SAC East All-Conference Boys’ Swimming & Diving
Team Champion: Land O’ Lakes
Coach of the Year: James Finn, Land O’ Lakes
Swimmer of the Year: Zuri Ramsey, Land O’ Lakes
Diver of the Year: Mason Gandy, Land O’ Lakes

First-Team
200 Medley Relay: (Sunlake) — Jay Jay Fonnotto, senior; Sammy Grimme, sophomore; Colin Wilkins, senior; Dominic Ortanez, senior
200 Freestyle: Clyde Crouse, Cypress Creek, junior
200 Individual Medley: Colin Wilkins, Sunlake, senior
50 Freestyle: Zuri Ramsey, Land O’ Lakes, junior
100 Butterfly: Jay Jay Fonnotto, Sunlake, senior
100 Freestyle: Zuri Ramsey, Land O’ Lakes, junior
500 Freestyle: Clyde Crouse, Cypress Creek, junior
200 Freestyle Relay: (Sunlake) — Jay Jay Fonnotto, senior; Sammy Grimme, sophomore; Colin Wilkins, senior; Dominic Ortanez, senior
100 Backstroke: Jay Jay Fonnotto, Sunlake, senior
100 Breaststroke: Griffin Sutek, Land O’ Lakes, junior
400 Freestyle Relay: (Wiregrass Ranch) — Douglas Lankton, junior; Noah Porter, sophomore; Kevin Chen, sophomore; Manny Silva, junior
Diver: Mason Gandy, Land O’ Lakes, junior

Mason Gandy

Second-Team
200 Medley Relay: (Land O’ Lakes) – Michael McCloskey, freshman; Evan Hobson, senior; Justin Crouch, senior, Logan Beatty, senior
200 Freestyle: Jack Kaatze, Land O’ Lakes, senior
200 Individual Medley: Matt Gomez, Wiregrass Ranch, junior
50 Freestyle: Charles Fields, Wesley Chapel, senior
100 Butterfly: Charles Fields, Wesley Chapel, senior
100 Freestyle: Houston Neal, Zephyrhills, senior
500 Freestyle: Matt Gomez, Wiregrass Ranch, junior
200 Freestyle Relay: (Wesley Chapel) – Charles Fields, senior; Izek Thomas, junior; Dominic Slay, junior; Alexander Hayden, senior
100 Backstroke: Ravidu Idippili-Pathiran, Land O’ Lakes, senior
100 Breaststroke: Alex Thai, Sunlake, freshman
400 Freestyle Relay: (Land O’ Lakes) – Michael McCloskey, freshman; Logan Beatty, senior; Sebastian Arbelaez, junior, Jake Conroy, freshman
Diver: Nicky Vreeland, Cypress Creek, sophomore

Honorable Mention
Andrew Fisher, Pasco, sophomore

Published December 18, 2019

Competing at nationals

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(Courtesy of Cyndi Walker)

The Land O’ Lakes-based South Pasco Predators cheerleading program had four of its teams compete in the Pop Warner Super Bowl and National Cheer & Dance Championships, earlier this month at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando. The Predators teams that competed were its Mitey Mites (7 to 9 years old), Junior Pee Wee (8 to 10 years old), Pee Wee (10 to 13 years old) and Varsity (12 to 15 years old).

Ed Radice Park 5K

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The Run Hillsborough Ed Radice Park 5K/1-mile walk is set for Jan. 11, at Ed Radice Sports Complex, 14720 Ed Radice Drive in Tampa. Check-in begins at 7:30 a.m., with an 8:30 a.m. start time for the 5K, and 9:30 a.m. for 1-mile walk.

The race is part of the Run Hillsborough 5K series, which features races throughout the year at different parks located around the county. The event is open to the public. Dogs also are welcome. Cost is $30 per participant for the 5K and $15 for the 1-mile walk. Participants get a T-shirt and medal for completing the race.

For information, contact Vince Bowers at or (813) 557-8272.

Event honors 78th anniversary of Pearl Harbor

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It was 78 years ago — Dec. 7, 1941 — when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, killing nearly 2,500 Americans and wounding 1,000 others.

The attack precipitated the entry of the United States into World War II and, as years pass, those associated with the Zephyrhills Museum of Military History believe it’s even more critical to share and preserve the stories of the fateful day.

Pearl Harbor veteran survivors Ed Socha, 98, left, and Charles McClelland, 96, made an appearance at the Zephyrhills Museum of Military History’s annual Pearl Harbor Commemoration Day. (Kevin Weiss)

“We can’t let people forget about it,” longtime museum volunteer Dan Evans said. “It’s just too important what happened in our own history, what happened in the world’s history.

“War is a horrible thing — a lot of people die. But, you want people to remember it because you don’t want that to happen anymore.”

To help keep the memory alive, every year since 2012, the museum has organized a Pearl Harbor Commemoration Day, at 39444 South Ave.

The Dec. 7 daylong event featured World War II men and women reenactors, as well as more than a dozen displays of World War II military vehicles and aircraft, including half-tracks and C-47B aircraft, all brought in by dedicated military collectors.

The biggest attraction, however, was the appearance of two Pearl Harbor veteran survivors — 98-year-old Ed Socha and 96-year-old Charles McClelland.

The Dec. 7 event featured World War II men and women reenactors, as well as more than a dozen displays of World War II military vehicles and aircraft, including half-tracks and C-47B aircraft, all brought in by a dedicated group of military collectors.

Socha was on the USS Maryland that was struck by two armor-piercing bombs, and McClelland on the USS Helena when it was hit by torpedo and bomb fragments.

Socha, who lives in Sun City, went on to serve in the military for 30 years, working his way up to Navy commander. McClelland, who lives in Zephyrhills, went on to serve on the USS Houston and the USS Missouri battleship. After the war, he worked 30 years as a draftsman for Michigan Consolidated gas utilities.

The two men, who now live life from a wheelchair, spent hours meeting with and taking pictures with attendees and guests.

Museum president Cliff Moffett said there were as many as 10 Pearl Harbor survivors in the event’s early years, but most of them passed on over the years. In addition to Socha and McClelland, the event drew a few other World War II veterans, and several Korean War and Vietnam War veterans.

Moffett underscored the significance of the commemoration: “These guy’s stories have to be told and have to be remembered. Everybody talks about what these guys did for the United States, but what would this world have been without these guys from World War II? We have no idea what this world would’ve been like.”

It was Zephyrhills resident Cathy Deaton’s first time attending the museum’s Pearl Harbor ceremony.

All kinds of wartime memorabilia and artifacts sit inside the Zephyrhills Museum of Military History, 39444 South Ave.. During the 1940s, the site where the museum sits was an Army barracks.

For her, it was a unique opportunity to show her appreciation and gratitude to those who served — especially back in World War II.

“It’s near and dear to my heart because everybody in my family has served, in some form or fashion,” said Deaton, also a volunteer for East Pasco Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter 705.

“Every chance I get, I try to talk to them and personally tell them, ‘Thank you,’” she said.

The commemoration likewise had special meaning to Zephyrhills resident Rod Rehrig, of Marine Corps League Sgt. Maj Michael S. Curtin Detachment #1124.

Rehrig said he met and chatted with fellow marines from Lakeland, Hudson and Mulberry at the event. He also was in awe of the hundreds of people and families who showed up throughout the day. “It’s heartwarming seeing all these people. I think it’s just great, they came from all over for this thing,” he said.

The building that now houses the Zephyrhills military museum originally was an Army barracks in the 1940s. It’s the site of where hundreds of Army fighter pilots came to Zephyrhills to hone their skills at the Zephyrhills Army Airfield before going to war. The now city-owned museum holds artifacts that convey treasured memories of World War II veterans who lived and trained in Zephyrhills, and others who served in other wars.

Published December 11, 2019

Sunlake student wins ‘Outstanding Senior’ honor

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Whether its focusing on rigorous academics or taking part in extracurriculars and church activities, Sunlake High’s Alexis Paredes enjoys being busy.

Actually, “having so much to do” is how the 17-year-old senior thrives best.

“I like to keep moving. I know if I don’t, I’ll get bored,” she said.

Sunlake High School senior Alexis Paredes has been awarded Pasco County School District’s 2019-2020 Outstanding Senior Award. (Courtesy of Pasco County Schools)

It’s that self-starter mindset that earned Paredes the Pasco County School District’s 2019-2020 Outstanding Senior Award.

The annual honor is bestowed based on academic record, service, leadership, citizenship, and  commitment to school and community.

Students considered for the award are nominated by the student body, principals, faculty and staff. Nominees from each of the 16 Pasco County high schools then are interviewed by a panel of Pasco County Schools district employees and community members who ultimately narrow the selection to one student to represent the school system.

Paredes marks the second Sunlake student to win the honor in as many years, joining Jillian Gordy who won the district’s 2018-2019 Outstanding Senior Award.

Paredes was humbled to win the prestigious countywide honor.

“I wasn’t expecting it. I wasn’t even expected to get outstanding senior for my school, much less district,” she said. “I still can’t believe that I beat the ‘best of the best.’”

Her resume, though, indicates she’s deserving.

She maintains a 4.4 weighted grade point average while taking multiple Advanced Placement classes.

She is a representative in the school’s student council, secretary of the school’s National Honor Society Chapter, and a member of a youth leadership at Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church, in Land O’ Lakes.

Yet, her involvement in the school’s Junior State of America (JSA) chapter is what she considers her “biggest accomplishment” and the one that makes her most proud.

The nationwide organization labels itself as a nonpartisan debate and activism club.

Paredes serves as the school’s JSA club president and also holds the title of the organization’s chapter internal affairs agent for the Southeast region, where she keeps tabs on other JSA chapter presidents throughout Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, South Carolina and Georgia. She summed up the role like this: “Basically, I get to contact different chapter presidents and make sure their chapters are running efficiently and giving them advice on how to run their chapter, how to structure a meeting, how to build fundraisers.”

Alexis Paredes, Pasco County School District’s 2019-2020 Outstanding Senior, stands alongside Sunlake High principal Michael Cloyd. (Courtesy of Sunlake High School)

Paredes, a JSA member since her freshman year, said the club is “something I’m really passionate about, because I’m very much for activism and fighting political apathy.”

She also noted that JSA is “a great avenue to talk about politics, to talk to kids my age that may not agree with me, but may agree with me as well, and try to see a compromise or unity.”

Along with that, Paredes is spearheading a daylong convention in January that will bring together up to 300 students from other JSA clubs throughout the Tampa Bay area, to debate such issues like gun control, capital punishment, reparations for slavery, mandatory vaccinations in public schools, merits of the Electoral College, and more.

The event’s keynote speaker is former Florida Supreme Court Justice Kenneth Bell.

Paredes has dreamed of organizing such a convention “since probably my sophomore year. “We’re going to have a bunch of kids come and debate…and just share in the spirit of democracy,” she said.

The Sunlake senior has other big plans ahead, too.

In the fall, she will be attending the University of Chicago on a full-ride academic scholarship. She plans to major in political science, then attend law school with hopes of someday going into politics and becoming a policymaker.

Paredes chose the out-of-state university “because it’s obviously a prestigious school, but at the same time, it’s a little more modern than Ivy League schools like Harvard and Yale.”

The school’s bevy of music concerts and location in the heart of the Windy City were some other major selling points, she said.

Besides her own drive and motivation to be successful, Paredes credited her mother and grandmother as being big influences, as well as some “amazing” teachers at Sunlake.

She said the classes she’s gotten the most out of are social studies classes at Sunlake, such as AP Human Geography and U.S. History. Those types of subjects, she said, taught her “a lot of life lessons.”

She quipped: “You wouldn’t think the Compromise of 1850 would be relevant to a 17-year-old in 2019, but I found learning about history teaches me about the present as well…”

As the senior gears up for her final semester at Sunlake, she’s already looking back fondly on her many memories on campus.

The amount of school spirit that radiates among the student body and faculty stands out, in particular, she said.

“Something I’ll definitely miss is the community, like the sense of unity our school has,” Paredes said. “If you go to our football games, we’re always riled up. We’re screaming cheers. We have a great sense of community spirit.”

She added: “I feel like our clubs are pretty solid, too, so if you’re joining a club, you don’t feel like it’s useless. You feel like the kids want to be there, the sponsors want to be there.”

Published December 11, 2019

Locals finish strong at state swim meet

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Several local schools and individuals in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area put up solid showings at the 2019 FHSAA (Florida High School Athletic Association) state swimming and diving championships, held last month at Sailfish Splashpark Aquatic Athletics Center, in Stuart.

The Steinbrenner High swimming and diving program put together a solid showing at the Class 4A meet, as its boys squad finished 13th (out of 45 schools) and girls squad finished 17th (out of 39 schools). (Courtesy of Steinbrenner High School Athletics)

A total of eight area schools were represented across all four classifications —  Academy at the Lakes (Class 1A), Cypress Creek Middle High (2A), Freedom High (3A), Land O’ Lakes High (3A), Steinbrenner High (4A), Sunlake High (3A), Wesley Chapel High (2A) and Wiregrass Ranch High (3A).

Of those schools, Sunlake posted the strongest overall team performance, with its boys squad finishing in seventh place (out of 50 3A schools) and girls finishing ninth (out of 43 schools), respectively; the Land O’ Lakes’ boys team (ninth place in 3A) represented the only other top-10 team finish among local schools.

Another notable overall team showing came from Steinbrenner, who’s boys finished 13th (out of 45 4A schools) and girls finished 17th (out of 39 schools). Also, the Freedom boys team finished 14th in 3A and the Academy at the Lakes girls finished 16th in 1A.

The Sunlake High swimming and diving program put together the best combined team finish among all local schools, as its boys team finished seventh (out of 50 Class 3A schools) and girls team finished ninth (out of 43 schools). (Courtesy of Sunlake High School Athletics)

Aside from team showings, there were a number of noteworthy individual and relay performances.

On the boys side, Land O’ Lakes junior Zuri Ramsey collected four medals, including gold in the 3A 50-yard freestyle, clocking 20.58. He also placed fourth in the 100-yard freestyle (45.71), and teamed with senior Jack Kaatze, junior Griffin Sutek, and senior Ravidu Idippili-Pathiran to place fifth in the 200-yard medley relay (1:37.61) and sixth in the 200-yard freestyle relay (1:28.24), respectively. Ramsey is the younger brother of Jabari Ramsey, who was a three-time FHSAA state champion in the 100-yard breast and a one-time champion in the 200-yard medley relay, making him the swimmer to win the most gold medals in Pasco County history.

Crosstown rival Sunlake also had a four medalist standout in senior Jay Jay Fonnotto. He placed fourth in the 3A 100-yard backstroke (52.19), sixth in the 100-yard butterfly (51.04), and teamed with sophomore Sammy Grimme, senior Colin Wilkins and senior Dominic Ortanez to collect fourth place finishes in both the 200-yard medley relay (1:37.19) and 200-yard freestyle relay (1:27.75).

Land O’ Lakes High junior Zuri Ramsey won gold in the 50-yard freestyle in the Class 3A state meet, clocking a 20.58. He also medaled in the 100-yard freestyle, 200-yard medley relay and 200-yard freestyle relay. (Courtesy of Land O’ Lakes High School Athletics)

Elsewhere, Cypress Creek junior Clyde Crouse took silver in the 500-yard freestyle (4:34.48) and placed sixth in the 200-yard freestyle (1:44.01).

On the girls side, Steinbrenner junior Lexie Mulvihill took gold in the 4A 50-yard free (22.46) and silver in the 100-yard free (49.58). She also anchored Steinbrenner’s 200 free relay and 100 free relay teams, which finished 11th and 12th, respectively.

Freedom sophomore Michelle Morgan collected a pair of silver medals in the 3A 200-yard individual medley (2:02.17) and 500-yard free (5:47.38). She also teamed with junior Hannah LaBohn, sophomore Alexa Valdez-Velez and sophomore Carly Joerin to place fourth in the 400-yard freestyle relay (3:35.85).

Academy at the Lakes junior McKenna Smith collected a pair of bronze medals in the 1A 50-yard free (23.05) and the 100-yard free (50.11)

Also, Sunlake freshman Gisella Wright tallied four medals. She finished eighth in both the 3A 100-yard freestyle (54.34) and 100-yard backstroke (1:00.64), and was a leg on Sunlake’s fourth-place 200-yard freestyle relay (1:39.80) and its sixth-place 200-yard medley relay (1:50.07).

Here’s a look at all the results among locals at the state meet:

Class 4A
Boys
Steinbrenner (13th place, out of 45 schools)
Events:
200 medley relay: (Eighth place, 1:36.93) — Shane MacGregor, junior; Garrett Sykes, sophomore; Max Martino, senior; Bradley Stoker, senior

200 free: Matthew Ross, sophomore (19th, 1:43.97)

200 individual medley: Bradley Stoker (16th, 1:57.40)

500 free: Max Martino (10th, 21.28)

100 fly: Max Martino (17th, 51.50)

100 free: Matthew Ross (ninth, 47.07)

200 free relay: (sixth, 1:26.89) — Matthew Ross, Bradley Stoker, Shane MacGregor, Max Martino

100 back: Shane MacGregor (16th, 54.26)

100 breast: Bradley Stoker (20th, 1:00.05)

Girls
Steinbrenner (17th place, out of 39 schools)
Events:
50 free: Lexie Mulvihill, junior (first, 22.46)

100 free: Lexie Mulvihill (second, 49.58)

200 free relay: (11th, 1:38.62) — Justine Answeeney, junior; Mackenzie Hall, junior; Jada Kamuf, senior; Lexie Mulvihill

100 free relay: (12th, 3:34.82) — Justine Answeeney, Mackenzie Hall, Kayla Daley, freshman; Lexie Mulvihill

Class 3A
Boys
Sunlake (Seventh place, out of 50 schools)
Events:
200 medley: (fourth, 1:37.19) — Jay Jay Fonnotto, senior; Sammy Grimme, sophomore; Colin Wilkins, senior; Dominic Ortanez, senior

50 free: Dominic Ortanez (sixth, 21.38)

100 fly: Jay Jay Fonnotto (sixth, 51.04)

100 free: Dominic Ortanez (16th, 49.13)

200 free relay: (fourth, 1:27.75) — Jay Jay Fonnotto, Sammy Grimme, Colin Wilkins, Dominic Ortanez

100 back: Jay Jay Fonnotto (fourth, 52.19)

Land O’ Lakes (Ninth)
Events:
Diving: Mason Gandy, junior (eighth, 303.65)

200 medley relay: (fifth, 1:37.61) – Ravidu Idippili-Pathiran, senior; Griffen Sutek, junior; Jack Kaatze, senior; Zuri Ramsey, junior

50 free: Zuri Ramsey (first, 20.58)

100 free: Zuri Ramsey (fourth, 45.71)

200 free relay: (sixth, 1:28.24)— Jack Kaatze, Griffin Sutek, Ravidu Idippili-Pathiran, Zuri Ramsey

100 back: Ravidu Idippili-Pathiran (23rd, 56.19)

100 breast: Griffin Sutek (16th, 1:02.03)

Wiregrass Ranch (35th)
Events:
200 free: Douglas Lankton, senior (21st, 1:47.54)

400 free relay: (10th, 3:18.71) – Douglas Lankton, Yueng Chen, sophomore; Noah Porter, sophomore; Manny Silva, junior

Freedom (36th)
500 free: Zachary Kopel, junior (sixth, 4:38.74)

Girls
Sunlake (Ninth place, out of 43 schools)
Events:
Diving: Isabela Monagas, junior (sixth, 374.55)

200 medley: (sixth place, 1:50.07) — Amber Ewald, sophomore; Audrey Ballash, senior; Gisella Wright, freshman; Alex Sprague, junior

50 free: Alex Sprague (12th, 24.90)

100 free: Gisella Wright (eighth, 28.49)

200 free: (fourth, 1:39.80) – Tori Eurell, senior; Audrey Ballash, Alex Sprague, Gisella Wright

100 back: Gisella Wright (eighth, 1:00.64); Amber Ewald (13th, 1:00.65); Madison Houck, freshman (17th, 1:00.86)

100 breast: Audrey Ballash (ninth, 1:06.24)

400 free relay: (14th, 3:46.63) — Tori Eurell, Leah Fonnotto, sophomore; Lilli Hilt, sophomore; Madison Houck

Freedom (14th)
Events:
200 individual medley: Michelle Morgan, sophomore (second, 2:02.17); Carly Joerin, sophomore (18th, 2:11.74)

50 free: Hannah LaBohn, junior (16th, 25.09)

100 free: Hannah LaBohn (13th, 54.72)

500 free: Michelle Morgan (second, 4:47.38); Carly Joerin (15th, 5:06.67)

400 free relay: (fourth, 3:35.85) — Hannah LaBohn, Alexa Valdez-Velez, sophomore; Carly Joerin, Michelle Morgan

Wiregrass Ranch (40th)
Events:
Diving: Abby Galo, sophomore (18th, 204.50)

100 breast: Maryam Khalil, sophomore (15th, 1:08.05)

Individual: 200 free — Apryl Paquette, junior, Land O’ Lakes (19th place,  1:58.86)

Class 2A
Boys
Cypress Creek (21st, out of 46 schools)
200 free: Clyde Crouse, junior (sixth, 1:44.01)

500 free: Clyde Crouse (second, 4:34.48)

Wesley Chapel (33rd)
Boys
50 free: Charles Fields, senior (seventh, 21.69)

Girls
Individuals: Diving — Tifani Farquhar, senior (19th, 215.30)

Class 1A
Girls
Academy at the Lakes (16th place, out of 45 schools)
50 free: McKenna Smith, junior (third, 23.05)

100 free: McKenna Smith (third, 50.11)

Published December 11, 2019

AATL football earns awards

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Academy at the Lakes junior quarterback Jalen Brown was one of six Wildcats to earn eight-man all-state honors. (File)

Six players from The Academy at the Lakes varsity football team were selected for the 2019 VICIS Eight-Man All-State team.

The Wildcats garnered three selections on offense (junior quarterback Jalen Brown, junior offensive lineman Dwiight Downing, senior offensive lineman Elijah Freedman) and three on defense/special teams (junior defensive end Tayshawn Pendleton, junior defensive back Adrian Leverette, junior punter Caleb Yann).

Other eight-man schools with all-state selections included Bell Creek Academy (Riverview), Canterbury (St. Petersburg), City of Life Christian (Kissimmee), Florida School for the Deaf and Blind (St. Augustine), Harvest Community School (Jacksonville) and Lakeside Christian (Clearwater).

The Wildcats finished the 2019 season with a 6-2 mark and qualified for the Sunshine State playoffs. The program won back-to-back eight-man state titles in 2017 and 2018.

Wiregrass Ranch football product earns All-Conference honor

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Chris Faddoul (Courtesy of Florida A&M University Athletics)

Former Wiregrass Ranch football star Chris Faddoul, now a junior punter at Florida A&M University, has earned first team All-MEAC (Mid-Eastern Athletic) Conference honors. Faddoul finished second in all of Division I FCS (Football Championship Series) averaging 46 yards per punt. Also notable, he pinned 19 of his 40 punts inside the 20-yard line and booted a season-high 72-yard punt against North Carolina A&T on Oct. 20.

At Wiregrass Ranch, Faddoul was a multi-sport standout, playing football, soccer, tennis, and also competing in track & field. His senior year on the gridiron, Faddoul guided the Bulls to a state playoff appearance in 2016, as the team’s starting quarterback, kicker and punter.

Tee-ing off for charity

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(Courtesy of Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point)

Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point’s 2019 Swing for Charity golf tournament raised over $28,000 for the American Heart Association’s Tampa Bay Heat Walk. The Nov. 8 tournament was at Seven Springs Golf & Country Club. Shown here is the tournament’s first-place team winner — Team Carroll sponsored by Medline. From left: Marcus Smith, Swing for Charity tournament director; Phil Meyers; Billy Jackson; Bill Jackson; and, Michael Carroll.

Fishing club seeks members

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The South Pasco Bassmasters fishing club is seeking members for its 2020 season. Team-format tournaments are held monthly on Saturdays at various lakes throughout central Florida. The nonprofit fishing club prides itself on “camaraderie, sportsmanship, and our commitment to worthwhile in the community.” Monthly club meetings are typically on Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m., at Beef O’ Brady’s Wilderness Lakes, 7040 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., Land O’ Lakes. For more information, email South Pasco Bassmasters president John Medvid at  , or visit SouthPascoBassmasters.com.